---
title: HandBrake
canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/handbrake/
category: Video Converter Software
points: 87
rank: 2 of 11
facts_checked: 2026-10-09
---

# HandBrake

Free, open-source video transcoder for Windows, macOS and Linux, with a queue, a command-line version and NVIDIA, Intel and AMD hardware encoders.

87 points out of 100. #2 of 11 video converters. Vendor: HandBrake Team. Website: https://handbrake.fr/

- HandBrake is free and open source under the GNU GPL version 2 [1][13].
- Official downloads cover Windows 10 and later (x64 and ARM64), macOS and Linux, plus a command-line version [2].
- Hardware encoding is documented for NVIDIA NVENC, Intel Quick Sync and AMD VCN on Windows 10 or later [3][4][5].
- It writes H.265 and AV1 video, and the command-line reference lists ProRes encoders [6][9].
- The documentation does not describe a target-file-size setting or audio-only output [9][14].

Verdict: HandBrake suits anyone who wants a free, open-source converter with a job queue, device presets and a command-line version [1][7][9][10]. It writes H.265 and AV1, keeps HDR10 metadata and has hardware encoders for all three GPU makers [3][4][5][6][8]. The catch: its pages do not describe a target-file-size option or audio-only output [9][14]. Best for: People who want a free converter with no watermark and a command-line option.

## Points

| Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Also runs on | macOS, Linux | 6/6 | Downloads page lists a macOS disk image and a Linux Flatpak package [2]. |
| Formats | H.265 (HEVC) output | Yes | 4/4 | Video codecs page lists H.265 (HEVC) encoding with x265 and hardware encoders [6]. |
| Formats | AV1 output | Yes | 6/6 | Video codecs page lists AV1 encoding with SVT-AV1, plus Intel, NVIDIA and AMD hardware options [6]. |
| Formats | Editing codecs | Yes | 3/3 | Command-line reference, generated by the Windows version, lists ff_prores and dnxhr encoders [9]. |
| Formats | HDR kept or tone-mapped | Yes | 4/4 | HDR page says mastering display and content light metadata pass through to the encode [8]. |
| Formats | Audio-only conversion | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's audio documentation, which covers tracks inside video files, not audio-only output [14]. |
| Formats | Subtitles | Yes | 3/3 | Subtitles page says SRT files can be imported from the Subtitles tab, as soft tracks or burned in [12]. |
| Speed | GPU encoding | NVIDIA NVENC, Intel Quick Sync, AMD AMF/VCN | 12/12 | Separate pages describe the NVENC, Quick Sync and VCN encoders, each requiring Windows 10 or later [3][4][5]. |
| Batch and tools | Batch queue | Yes | 5/5 | Docs say you can set up multiple encodes at once by adding them to the Queue [10]. |
| Batch and tools | Device presets | Yes | 3/3 | Official presets include Devices (Android, Apple, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation) and Web groups [7]. |
| Batch and tools | Command line or watch folder | Yes | 5/5 | The documentation describes HandBrakeCLI and its command-line reference [9]. |
| Batch and tools | Compress to a set file size | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's command-line reference, which lists a video bitrate option but no target file size [9]. |
| Batch and tools | Trim, crop and rotate | Yes | 3/3 | Command-line reference lists --crop, --rotate and --start-at/--stop-at options for crop, rotate and trim [9]. |
| Batch and tools | Reads DVD or Blu-ray | Yes | 3/3 | Source formats page says HandBrake opens DVD and Blu-ray discs and folders, without defeating copy protection [11]. |
| Price and licence | Free version without a watermark | Yes | 12/12 | Home page says it is free; no vendor page lists a watermark or limit [1]. |
| Price and licence | Open source | Yes | 6/6 | GitHub README says HandBrake is licensed under the GNU GPL version 2 [13]. |
| Price and licence | Pay once, keep it | No | 0/6 | Not sold; the product is entirely free [1]. Free products are not counted here by the rule. |
| Price and licence | Cheapest full version | $0 | 12/12 | Entirely free, so $0 [1]. |

## Plans

| Plan | Price | Per month (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free [1][2] | $0 |

## Strengths

- Free, with no price on the download page and the source under GPL-2.0 [1][13].
- Hardware encoder pages exist for NVIDIA NVENC, Intel Quick Sync and AMD VCN [3][4][5].
- HandBrakeCLI runs encodes from the command line, with crop, rotate, start and stop options [9].
- Opens DVD and Blu-ray discs and folders, though it does not defeat copy protection [11].
- Passes HDR10 mastering display and content light metadata through to the encode [8].

## Limits

- The command-line reference lists no option for a target file size, only a video bitrate [9].
- The audio documentation covers tracks in video files and does not describe audio-only output [14].
- NVENC and AMD VCN write HDR10 metadata only in the container, not in the video stream [8].

## Vendor claims (not scored)

- HandBrake says it can convert video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs [1].

## Sources

1. [HandBrake: Open Source Video Transcoder](https://handbrake.fr/), HandBrake, accessed 2026-10-09
2. [HandBrake downloads](https://handbrake.fr/downloads.php), HandBrake, accessed 2026-10-09
3. [NVEnc video encoder](https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/technical/video-nvenc.html), HandBrake documentation, accessed 2026-10-09
4. [Intel QuickSync video encoder](https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/technical/video-qsv.html), HandBrake documentation, accessed 2026-10-09
5. [AMD VCN video encoder](https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/technical/video-vcn.html), HandBrake documentation, accessed 2026-10-09
6. [Video codecs](https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/technical/video-codecs.html), HandBrake documentation, accessed 2026-10-09
7. [Official presets](https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/technical/official-presets.html), HandBrake documentation, accessed 2026-10-09
8. [HDR encoding](https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/technical/hdr.html), HandBrake documentation, accessed 2026-10-09
9. [Command line reference](https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/cli/command-line-reference.html), HandBrake documentation, accessed 2026-10-09
10. [Using the queue](https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/advanced/queue.html), HandBrake documentation, accessed 2026-10-09
11. [Supported source formats](https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/technical/source-formats.html), HandBrake documentation, accessed 2026-10-09
12. [Adding subtitles](https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/advanced/subtitles.html), HandBrake documentation, accessed 2026-10-09
13. [HandBrake/HandBrake](https://github.com/HandBrake/HandBrake), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09
14. [Audio quality](https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/technical/audio-quality.html), HandBrake documentation, accessed 2026-10-09